Overview
This lecture recaps Unit 2: the Age of Exploration, focusing on the causes, key explorers, technological advances, and global impacts of European expeditions from the 1400s onward.
Division of the World Before Exploration
- The world was divided into the "old world" (Europe, Asia, Africa) and "new world" (Americas), largely separated by lack of technology.
- Movement and contact between these regions were impossible before the Age of Exploration.
Causes and Motivations for Exploration
- European nations sought new sea routes to Asia after losing traditional trading partners.
- Motivations included finding gold (wealth), spreading Christianity (God), and gaining national pride (Glory).
Key Explorers and Voyages
- Prince Henry the Navigator financed early Portuguese explorations.
- Bartholomew Diaz reached the Cape of Good Hope (southern tip of Africa).
- Vasco da Gama sailed around Africa to reach India.
- Christopher Columbus attempted to reach Asia by sailing west, instead landing in the Americas.
- Jacques Cartier claimed Canada for France.
- Henry Hudson explored areas around New York and Canada (Hudson River/Bay).
- Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition became the first to circumnavigate the globe.
Technological Advances
- The caravel, a fast and sturdy ship, enabled longer voyages.
- Navigational tools like the compass and astrolabe improved sea travel and positioning.
Global Impacts and Connections
- European exploration removed barriers between continents, initiating global contact.
- The Columbian Exchange allowed the transfer of crops, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds.
- Examples include corn, potatoes, and tomatoes going to Europe, and horses, grapes, and diseases to the Americas.
Atlantic Slave Trade and Triangular Trade
- The Atlantic slave trade forcibly transported Africans to the Americas as slaves.
- Raw resources from the Americas were sent to Europe, manufactured into goods, and traded for more slaves, creating a vicious cycle.
- Voyages were extremely dangerous and often deadly.
Expansion and European Dominance
- Spain, France, England, and Portugal expanded into the New World, conquering civilizations like the Maya, Aztec, and Inca.
- Driven by God, Gold, and Glory, European nations became the most powerful global forces.
Religious Conflicts
- Spain remained Catholic, while England became Protestant, leading to conflict.
- Spain's failed invasion of England allowed England to rise as a dominant world power.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Age of Exploration — Period from the 1400s when Europeans explored and connected the globe.
- Caravel — Advanced sailing ship developed by the Portuguese.
- Compass — Navigation tool for determining direction.
- Astrolabe — Instrument for finding latitude by measuring star positions.
- Columbian Exchange — Exchange of goods, animals, plants, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds.
- Triangular Trade — Three-part trade system among Europe, Africa, and the Americas involving slaves and goods.
- Circumnavigate — To sail all the way around the world.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review explorers and their routes for the next assessment.
- Read about the Columbian Exchange's long-term impacts in your textbook.